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Stephen Harper reminded that Manila is cracking down on corruption

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, and his wife, Laureen, look out as they ride a jeepney during their visit at Fort Santiago in Manila on Saturday. Harper is in Manila for a three-day official visit. (JAY DIRECTO / AFP)

By Bruce Campion-SmithOttawa Bureau chief

Sat., Nov. 10, 2012

MANILA—Filipino President Benigno Aquino says his country is under “new management” as he tries to sweep away the ghosts of corruption that continue to dog his country’s reputation.

Aquino used a visit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper — and the cluster of Canadian journalists with him — to send a deliberate signal that his administration is working hard to clean up from past governments rife with corruption.

“We keep saying that the Philippines is open for business under new management,” Aquino said Saturday, adding that Harper’s visit was recognition the atmosphere in his country is changing.

For his part, Harper noted that almost 600,000 Canadians of Filipino background live and work in Canada.

“Indeed, for two years now, the Philippines has been the largest source country for immigrants to Canada,” Harper said.

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While trade between Canada and the Philippines is a modest $1.5 billion a year, both leaders said those immigrant ties will encourage further investments.

“Our ties are increasingly getting closer and closer, primarily because of the increasing people-to-people ties that we have in Canada,” Aquino told reporters at the Malacanan Palace, home to his official residence and office.

“We do see increased trade ties between our countries,” Aquino said, hinting at his anti-corruption campaign that has helped make the Philippines more attractive for foreign investment.

“Things that hindered the development of those ties in the past under new management will cease to exist,” he said.

Harper is the first Canadian prime minister to visit here in 15 years and his trip is strategic. Canada is trying to do more to engage Asian and Pacific nations in trade. And analysts say the economy in the Philippines is poised to take off and Harper is hoping Canadian firms can grab a piece of the action.

While the official announcements were modest, Canadian officials hope the symbolism of their high-level visit will pay dividends down the road.

Harper signed an understanding that allows the Philippines to acquire defence equipment and expertise. Though no specifics were provided, the prime minister said the deal will create new opportunities for Canadian firms.

Aquino said the deal could help spur the upgrading of his country’s military forces.

“We have a lot of outmoded equipment,” he said.

He said the country’s navy dates back to the Second World War and earlier, the country doesn’t have a single fighter jet and it recently doubled its fleet of transport aircraft to two.

He declined to detail what kind of upgrades he is looking to make, saying, “I can’t go into specifics lest they be observed by less friendly individuals.

“We are now in a position, because of this understanding, to access the expertise, skills and get more value for our money for the legitimate needs to be able to defend our territory and our sovereignty,” Aquino said.

As well, Harper used his visit to announce that Canada will provide $10 million to promote the empowerment of women in eight Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. The money, to be channelled through a United Nations agency, will help make the justice systems in this countries more equitable and “help to create regional standards with respect to equality between men and women,” according to a fact sheet on the announcement.

He also pledged $15.5 million over the next four years to promote economic growth and create jobs in the Philippines. The money will go toward improving tourism as well as promoting public-private partnerships in infrastructure development and helping youth get job skills.

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